Verbata is a made-up word that comes from the Latin word verbatim. Verbatim was already taken as a domain name, so I made one up. As a blog, however, Verbata is about far more than figments of our imagination. Verbata is a blog devoted to examining and studying the Bible in light of its grammatical, historical, cultural, and theological roots. Much of what you’ll find here is a combination of personal musings on specific passages, observations related to sermon preparation, daily devotions, and a continually growing commentary on whatever book I happen to be working my way through at the time. I don’t profess to be a great thinker or Bible scholar, nor do I expect anything on here to go down in history as a major breakthrough in Biblical interpretation. I doubt that my thoughts are original or unique to me. However, I do take my study seriously and constantly approach it with a humility and prayer that the Holy Spirit will open my eyes and show me what I should know. The results are what you’ll find in the posts here.
Who am I? I’m an aspiring church planter with the Christian Reformed Church of North America. I graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI with a Master of Divinity in 2009, and have since been living in Portland, OR waiting for God to put me somewhere and use me to transform lives and communities with the gospel. I’m crazy about all things history, philosophy, and the Biblical languages and constantly find myself amazed by God’s Word. But before any of that, I’m just another messy human being who fails on a daily basis to live out the calling and mission God has called me to.
At Verbata, I’m free to explore, question, doubt, and wrestle. I find that freeing. But most importantly, I’m looking to be challenged and shaped by my study of Scripture and, God-willing, perhaps you will be, too. Join me…
